IPL 2018: Karthik doffs his hat to Kuldeep Yadav after KKR beat RR

  • Jepher Christopher Nickels
  • Kolkata
  • May 16, 2018
  • UPDATED 00:50 IST

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Kolkata Knight Riders beat Rajasthan Royals by 6 wickets
  • Kuldeep Yadav's 4/20 helped KKR bowl out RR for 142
  • Dinesh Karthik applauded Kuldeep for his match winning effort
Kuldeep Yadav and Dinesh Karthik (Photo: BCCI)
IPL 2018, KKR vs RR: Kuldeep Yadav produced IPL career-best 4/20 to dismiss RR for 142. (Photo: BCCI)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Kolkata Knight Riders beat Rajasthan Royals by 6 wickets
  • Kuldeep Yadav's 4/20 helped KKR bowl out RR for 142
  • Dinesh Karthik applauded Kuldeep for his match winning effort

Dinesh Karthik was a happy captain after Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League to move a step closer to the play-offs.

KKR defeated RR by 6 wickets at the Eden Gardens and Karthik was all praise for Kuldeep Yadav, who wreaked havoc to trigger the Rajasthan collapse in the first innings.

"Hats off to him [Kuldeep]. Kuldeep is an international quality bowler and is one of the best chinaman bowler in the world. He is sometimes so confident that he ends up slacking off and giving out one easy ball. But the amount of effort he puts in at the practice is unbelievable. He is very hardworking, always in the gym and if I can keep him consistent it is enough," Karthik said at the post match presentation ceremony.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS | PHOTOS

Put in to bat, Rajasthan Royals were off to a fiery start thanks to a 63-run stand between openers Rahul Tripathi (27) and Jos Buttler (39) in 4.5 overs.

The two batsmen clobbered 10 consecutive boundaries, including 28 by Buttler off pacer Shivam Mavi in the third over.

However, Royals slowed down after Tripathi's wicket and once Kuldeep Yadav was introduced in the eighth over it was only downslide for the visitors.

Also read - IPL 2018, KKR vs RR: Kuldeep, Karthik take KKR closer to play-offs

Kuldeep finished with his career-best Indian Premier League figures of 4/20 as Royals crashed to 142 in 19 overs.

In reply, KKR were off to a blistering start before Ben Stokes (3/15) put brakes on the scoring with wickets of Sunil Narine (21) and Robin Uthappa (4).

Ish Sodhi (1/21) too proved to be lethal with his leg-spin bowling but Chris Lynn (45) and Dinesh Karthik (41 not out) saw off his threatening spell and guided the home side to victory.

Also read - IPL 2018: Kuldeep Yadav wrecker-in-chief in great Royals collapse

"I think they started off brilliantly, especially Buttler and Tripathi played really well. But it also shows our character where we just didn't give up. When we got the chance we just didn't let it go. Winning one, losing the next and then coming back is a part of the IPL. We just try and put in team bonding sessions, keep interacting and look to put a smile one everyone's face to keep them motivated," Karthik said.

KKR play their final league in Hyderabad against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday.

Do You Like This Story?